STORIES FROM MEMBERS
From Carol Ewing:
My friend Claudia Hay described our situation as "Luxury Isolation" since our "group" still meets for coffee at Southside Park, we had Book Club on our back deck and wine is always chilled at 5:00 p.m
.
From Sandy Smith:
Some days I get very bored and restless looking for something to do, but for the most part I manage to keep busy enough. Before the weather got so nice I completed many, many puzzles. I've been able to continue my piano lessons on WhatsApp, so I spend time pretty well every day practicing. My teacher and I are working on two duets that we can't wait to finally sit down and play together. We're doing some major home renovations outside, so we spent a few busy weeks doing prep work for that. Our son is arriving in a couple of hours from Halifax for a brief visit. We haven't seen him since Christmas, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing him.
From Mary Aucoin:
I am doing well, doing some You Tube videos that South Gate got going with exercise. Getting my walks in and cooking lots of healthy meals. Meeting some of my Tai Chi friends at the park doing social distance.
From Geri Shearer:
As for the last few months they have gone surprisingly fast. I have been able to keep in touch with friends. Now I am golfing twice a week and playing cards occasionally. A month ago I finally got to see my great grandson, now 7 months old and finally hold him. The Blue Jays are back playing and work outside is in full swing, so all is well for now.
From Connie Lauder:
My husband and I are doing fine so far. We just must keep vigilant in staying healthy and safe. Of course being on City Council and many Boards and Committees I have kept quite busy.
My days were kept very busy for four months taking care of my 17-21 month old grandson. There was no daycare available and his mom is a nurse at Woodingford Lodge. I certainly was not bored! He is now back in daycare and doing well! I will welcome the day when we can meet again without masks and hand sanitizer in tow. I am sure we all have a real appreciation for what matters in life, compliments of COVID.
From Joan Leary:
A lot has really changed since March in how we now go about our daily activities. My summer has been busy helping my husband redo our back yard as we had outdoor water proofing done to the back wall of our house and a sump pump installed. There haven't been too many idle days. Our family has been healthy and that is a blessing.
From Liz Jones:
I am good. Miss my activities: Bridge, clubs, summer theatre, and lunch out with friends. Finally able to see my grandchildren. Makes my heart sing. Hope they will be able to return to school. They missed their friends and teachers. Also, they need structure and routine. Luckily they have amazing parents who kept up with virtual learning and provided stimulating activities at home. But it still wasn't the same.
From Sharon Bale:
I haven’t enjoyed the past 6 months but like all of us have made the best of it. I have been trying to get out most days, either for a walk or ride, I spent a few days at a friend’s summer home in Niagara and a week at the cottage with my family. I have also returned to volunteering at VON.
From Pam Orth:
We are both well and hope it continues. Thank you for your time to inquire how we all are. Stay safe and healthy.
From Sharon Galloway:
For me, Probus is a time to meet up with friends before the meeting, during coffee breaks and getting together for lunch after, where we can talk about the meeting and speaker. It is a social morning with some education included. I am missing the "old days" so much--a lifestyle we took for granted and didn't appreciate as much as we should have. I am adapting--with a trip to the grocery store sometimes being the highlight of my week, but at least I am, so far, capable of doing that. I am learning to be more thankful for my health when I see our friends gradually losing some of theirs. I am thankful I can still drive and have my independence even if I don't go far. I am thankful for the bit of technology I can understand how to use so that I can tune into meaningful Church services each week when we can't worship together. I am thankful for a roof over our head and good food on our table, cheques that keep arriving in the mail when so many younger people have none of these. I am thankful that over my many years of living I have learned to have more patience. We will survive!
From Elly LeGallais:
I have to agree that this summer has been the hottest I have ever experienced!! The continued nice weather has provided lots of opportunities for walks, golf and swimming once permission was given for that. These activities have been a great boon to getting out of the house and socializing while observing social distancing, etc. During July we made one trip to Ottawa to visit our daughters & families...no hugging or kissing but it was wonderful!! I do sincerely hope that there will be a Vaccine soon so that we can return to “Normal” in whatever form that will be. In the meantime, I’ll abide by the rules and wear a mask, etc.
From Donna Wallace:
Yes it has been a difficult time, but it has been much worse for so many who lost loved ones, or fell ill from covid19. We can only hope for things to get better. We have noticed how people walking by have said 'hello', when they never did before...... We have received phone calls and newsy emails from old friends all over the world. Maybe, just maybe, after all of these difficult times, young people will see the value of paying off loans and putting a little money away for a rainy day!!! We can only hope. I wish everyone continued good health till we are together again.
From Cynthia Rhamey:
In many ways, it's been difficult since mid-March, but we still have so much to be thankful for. We are exceedingly grateful for our 2 loyal and loving black labs and for our perennial beds and planters. Spending more time outdoors, watching and listening to the birds and watching the sky and the clouds has been good for the soul. To prepare for the inevitable long winter ahead, we dropped a bundle at Indigo last week and are putting some books away for when we can't be outside as much. I love attending our current style of Probus meetings, so choose option #4. One of my favourite quotations that fits with the times, is a familiar one by Maya Angelou..... If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Take care and be safe.
From Norma King:
As for myself I have been working hard with physio to get my fingers and wrist moving. We have done a lot of cleaning out of those precious items we just couldn’t throw away before now - I should be good in that department for a while.
From Nancy Cassidy:
My husband is having some struggles that will be progressive and my focus is really on him. I do miss the Probus meetings and all of our friends there and certainly look forward to meeting again.
From Isobel Cosyn (one of our Charter Members):
Good and happy news: Moe and I have known each other 68 years and will celebrate our 64th anniversary Sept. 22nd. (we have a wonderful/happy marriage).
From Mary Sellars:
Mark and I did manage to get camping at Algonquin for 4 days with our daughter and grandchildren while her husband worked. Best weather we have ever had so it was a nice break.
From Janet Snider:
I am improving ever so slowly, but it is happening. At least with covid I have had no pressure to do much because nothing much is happening. We’re all in a holding pattern it seems. We saw our little grandchildren last weekend after 6 months and probably won’t be able to see them again until Christmas. That is the hardest part of all this. We are keeping well and I hope you and yours are too.
From Lenore Kuenzie:
I have not minded the isolation at all...time for reflection, reading, knitting, sewing masks, head bands and quilting. Of course, my husband does the errands and grocery shopping...it's his "entertainment!" I do the occasional gardening, when it's not too hot... In my 78 years, I have found this summer too hot for enjoyment. Wishing for snow was a fantasy!!
Wish
The weeks go by, the fourth, the fifth,
And normalcy’s become a myth.
I want to hug, I want to hold,
I want this deadly scourge controlled.
I want to walk amidst a crowd.
I want to lift this morbid shroud.
I sit, sequestered in my home,
And yearn to mingle, travel, roam.
My energy is out of whack —
I want my normal problems back.
ERIKA FINE
Brookline, Mass.
